262 But of except by
severals individuals
263 head-piece intellect
Lower messes inferior classes
264 business plays on "sexual business"
purblind blind
272 Satisfy Leontes picks up on the sense of "gratify sexually"
275 well well as with
276 chamber-councils personal business
277 cleansed my bosom heard my confession and given me absolution 278 we Leontes falls back on royal "we" to assert authority 282 bide dwell
284 hoxes cripples
285 counted accounted, deemed
286 grafted planted
288 game plays on the sense of "sexual play/contest"
home to its conclusion
stake drawn prize collected (plays on the sense of "penis ready for action") 296 wilful-negligent deliberately neglectful
299 weighing considering, anticipating
300 issue outcome
301 Whereof ... non-performance where, the deed being accomplished, it became clear that it should indeed have been undertaken 306 trespass crime
307 visage face, appearance
310 eye-glass lens of the eye
312 vision so apparent something so obvious
313 cogitation thought
315 slippery licentious/deceitful/unchaste
316 be ... To shamelessly deny that you
318 hobby-horse whore
319 rank lustful
flax-wench lowly woman (flax was spun on a--phallic--distaff, so this also signifies "whore/ lecherous woman") puts ... troth-plight has sex before her betrothal
322 clouded i.e. defamed
323 present immediate
'Shrew curse (beshrew)
324 become befit, suit
325 were ... true would be as sinful as the (adulterous) wrongs you describe, even if they were true 329 career full gallop
330 note infallible certain sign
331 honesty virtue, decency/chastity
Horsing ... foot foot-treading, a favorite erotic signal of the period; plays on sexual sense of "mount," adopting sexual position 333 Hours wishing hours were
334 pin and web cataract
338 nothing of no significance; plays on "no thing" (i.e. vagina/no penis) 341 betimes quickly
348 temporizer procrastinator
350 liver thought to be the seat of sexual passion 352 glass hourglass
354 medal miniature portrait of the beloved
356 bare bore, had
358 particular thrifts personal profit
359 undo prevent, ruin
doing action/sex
360 cupbearer servant who carried his master's cup and was responsible for serving wine meaner form lower rank
361 benched given a position of authority
worship honor, respectability
363 galled distressed, vexed
bespice season (with poison)
364 lasting wink eternal sleep (death)
365 cordial health giving, heart restoring
367 rash immediately effective
368 dram draught, tiny amount
369 Maliciously violently
370 crack moral breach (with vaginal connotations) dread noble, respected
373 Make ... rot! If you are going to dispute my accusations, then go and rot!
374 muddy dull-witted
375 appoint ... vexation put myself in this distress 377 sleep peace of mind
spotted stained
379 Give ... blood raise questions about the legitimacy 381 ripe moving to't full, compelling reason for it 382 blench turn aside
384 fetch off kill (plays on the sense of "rescue") 387 for ... tongues preventing damaging talk
390 Thou ... down i.e. what you suggest is exactly what I had intended to do 394 countenance expression/appearance
395 keep keep company with
404 miserable doomed, unfortunate
405 case situation
406 ground reason, imperative
408 in ... himself behaving uncharacteristically, defying his true nature 409 All ... too all of his servants behave in such a way as well 410 If even if
413 brass ... parchment monuments or materials on which history is recorded 416 break-neck i.e. death
Happy favorable
419 warp contract/go astray
423 None rare nothing exceptional
425 As as if
427 customary compliment usual courtesy
428 Wafting ... th'contrary looking away
falling letting fall, pouting
434 intelligent informative, communicative
'Tis thereabouts it must be something of this sort, i.e. something you dare not say 435 to ... must within your heart, if you know something, you cannot deny that you do 437 complexions appearance, expressions
442 distemper disordered constitution
444 Of from
446 basilisk mythical reptile that could kill with its sight and breath 447 sped fared/succeeded
448 regard look/favor, esteem
450 Clerk-like educated (and)
451 gentry gentlemanly role
gentle honorable
453 aught anything
behove benefit
459 conjure charge, solemnly appeal
parts qualities
460 whereof ... suit not the least of which is (to answer) my request 462 incidency event
467 charged commanded
468 mark pay attention to
469 ev'n even, just
471 goodnight i.e. the end
473 him by him/to be the one
479 vice force
483 his ... best i.e. Judas, betrayer of Christ 485 savour smell
strike blast, have an evil influence over
dullest least receptive
489 Swear ... over even if you swear what he says is untrue 491 influences an invisible substance was supposed to stream from stars and influence destiny 492 for to to
493 or either
494 fabric building, structure
496 The ... body for the rest of his life
497 grow have developed
501 trunk body
502 impawned as a pledge
503 whisper to inform secretly of
504 posterns back gates of the city
505 Clear them make their way out
506 which ... lost i.e. in revealing this information I have ruined my fortunes
509 prove test
510 stand by reaffirm publicly
515 pilot guide
places dignities, rank, honors
thy ... mine your position/privileges shall always be related to mine 517 hence departure departure from here
523 Professed professed friendship
525 Good expedition prompt departure
526 theme concern, motive
527 ill-ta'en misinformed, unjustified
529 avoid leave
5 none of have nothing to do with
10 for because because
12 so provided
15 'this you this
22 rounds apace grows larger rapidly (in pregnancy) 24 wanton with us (want to) play with us
27 Good ... her! May she have a happy labor!
29 for ready for
31 sad serious/mournful
34 sprites spirits
41 Yond crickets i.e. the other women over there 44 tuft thicket
45 scour move swiftly
46 Even all the way
48 just censure accurate/justifiable judgment
51 steeped soaked
50 In ... infected i.e. a spider (thought to be venomous) would not poison the drink it was in unless the drinker knew of its presence 55 gorge stomach/throat
56 hefts heaves
I have drunk perhaps elided "I've drunk" for sake of meter 57 pander pimp, go-between
59 mistrusted suspected
false deceitful
62 pinched
tormented
trick trifle, toy
69 nurse breast-feed (babies of noble households were breast-fed by wet-nurses) 72 Sport? A joke?
74 sport entertain (plays on the sense of "have sex") 79 Howe'er ... th'nayward whatever you think to the contrary 83 justice rightful judgment
84 honest truthful/chaste
85 without-door public, outward
86 straight immediately
87 brands stigmas/slanders
88 calumny slander
out wrong/angry/speechless
89 That ... itself i.e. mercy, not slander, uses shrugs to suggest that Hermione is unchaste; slander attacks actual virtue (which she does not possess) 91 come between interrupt
96 replenished complete
97 He ... villain saying so would make him an even greater villain 99 mistook plays on the sense of "wrongfully had sex with"
101 I'll ... place i.e. I will not desecrate your high rank by calling you what you really are (in fact Leontes does so: creature plays on the sense of "whore") 103 a like the same
degrees social classes
104 mannerly distinguishment the proper distinction 108 federary confederate, accomplice
109 know plays on the sense of "have sex"
111 bed-swerver unfaithful to the marital bed ("swerver" means offender, trespasser; possible play on "swiver") 112 vulgars common people
bold'st titles coarsest names
privy To secretly aware of
117 published publicly denounced
Gentle my my noble
118 throughly thoroughly
to say by saying
122 centre mainstay, support (i.e. if my supposition is incorrect, then the whole structure of my mind/the world will collapse) 123 top spinning top, toy
124 afar off indirectly/by implication
125 But ... speaks merely by speaking up
126 ill malevolent
128 aspect astrological influence
130 want lack
131 Perchance ... pities may perhaps prevent you from feeling pity for me 132 here i.e. in my heart
134 qualified tempered, moderated
charities senses of charity
135 measure judge
137 heard i.e. obeyed
140 plight situation, i.e. her pregnancy 144 better grace higher virtue (in the eyes of God) 146 leave permission (to go)
158 keep ... wife i.e. treat my wife as I would an animal/segregate my wife from all men (as mares were from stallions in stables) 159 in couples leashed together (as hounds were for the hunt) 160 Than ... her not trust her except when I can see or feel her 162 dram tiny portion
167 putter-on plotter, instigator
169 land-damn of unclear meaning; probably "thrash pitilessly"
171 some about
173 geld spay, make infertile
174 bring false generations have illegitimate children 175 glib castrate
176 fair issue legitimate offspring
180 doing thus perhaps Leontes touches Antigonus or places Antigonus' hand on something withal in addition
181 instruments that feel i.e. fingers
183 honesty chastity/fidelity/truth
184 the ... sweeten to perfume the face
186 credit credibility, (others') belief
188 Upon this ground in this matter (plays on sense of "earth") 189 suspicion doubt
193 instigation incentive, direction
Our ... this my royal privilege does not require your advice; I am informing you of this out of natural goodness
195 or stupefied either insensible
196 in skill falsely
197 Relish appreciate, understand
199 ord'ring on't management of it
200 Properly personally
201 liege lord, superior entitled to feudal allegiance and service 203 overture public disclosure
205 ignorant by age grown stupid with age
208 gross ... only obvious as any suspicion that lacked only visible proof (gross plays on the senses of "coarse/vile") 209 nought for approbation nothing remained for proof 211 Made added
deed event/sexual act
proceeding course of action
214 wild rash
post haste
215 Delphos Delos, the island where Apollo the sun god was born and home to an oracle; possibly conflated with Delphi, the Greek town more famous for its oracle 217 stuffed sufficiency complete competency
218 had having been heard
223 he any man/Antigonus
225 Come up to face
226 From away from
free accessible/innocent/not imprisoned
227 treachery i.e. suspected plot to kill Leontes 230 raise rouse, incite
12 ado a fuss
13 gentle noble/kind
16 put apart dismiss, leave
24 passes colouring surpasses dyeing/is beyond all attempts at justification 27 forlorn outcast
28 On on account of
30 is ... delivered has given birth prematurely
33 Lusty robust
37 lunes fits of madness, attributed to changes of the moon beshrew curse
38 on't of it
office task
39 Becomes is suited to
40 honey-mouthed deceitful
red-looked dressed in red, like the military herald who preceded the trumpeter 41 never ... more may my tongue never be allowed to declare my anger again 43 Commend ... obedience send my devoted support
46 Her ... th'loud'st her most vociferous representative 52 free generous
miss ... issue fail to achieve a positive outcome (thriving issue plays on the sense of "healthy offspring") 54 meet suitable
55 presently immediately
57 hammered ... design thought of this enterprise 58 durst ... honour dared not ask a noble person
61 wit good sense, wisdom
67 I shall ... it punishment I risk to let it out of the prison 1 Nor neither
3 in being alive
4 harlot lascivious (Polixenes)
5 blank target
6 level aim, range
7 hook attach
8 Given ... fire burned at the stake (punishment for treason) moiety part
15 Conceiving learning of
19 solely alone
20 him i.e. Polixenes
23 parties, his alliance supporters, his allies
28 she she who is
30 be second to support
33 free innocent
37 hot rash, hasty
38 sleep i.e. peace
40 needless heavings pointless sighs or groans
41 awaking sleeplessness
43 either both
humour mood/sickness
46 needful conference necessary conversation
47 gossips godparents
48 How? What?
53 On ... peril at the risk of your fury
55 rule control
56 From away from
58 Commit imprison
60 La you now there you are, then
67 in ... yours when it comes to condoning your wrongs than those who seem superficially to be most loyal 70 queen may pun on "quean" (whore)
72 by ... good prove her innocence by a duel
73 the worst even the most lowly
75 makes but trifles thinks little of, i.e. she'll scratch them 76 hand touch
On ... off I'll go when I decide
80 Out! Away!
81 mankind masculine/furious
82 intelligencing bawd spying pimp
84 ignorant inexperienced, unknowing
85 entitling calling
86 warrant assure (you)
90 dotard old fool
woman-tired henpecked
unroosted dislodged, usurped in domestic authority
91 Partlet traditional name for a hen
92 crone old woman/old ewe
94 Unvenerable unworthy of respect
95 by ... upon't under that base name (of bastard) he has forced on it 97
dreads fears (Paulina's response seems to shift sense to "respects, reveres") 107 as ... opinion i.e. as he is king, it is a shame he cannot be forced to uproot the basis of his belief 111 callat nag/whore
113 baits provokes (plays on beats) 115 dam mother (contemptuous, usually applied to animals) 118 lay ... charge apply the old proverb to you 119 'tis the worse the child is the worse off for it 120 print copy
matter substance/image
122 trick manner, habit
nay even
valley perhaps the groove between the nose and the lip or a cleft in the chin 126 got begot, conceived
127 ordering ... mind temperament
128 No yellow let there be no yellow (traditionally the color of jealousy) 130 hag witch
131 lozel scoundrel
132 stay her tongue shut her up
141 It ... in't i.e. it is you, the one who orders the fire, who is a heretic as you are burning me unjustly 145 weak-hinged fancy fragile, unsupported imaginings savours smells
150 Where ... life? i.e. I would have had her killed by now 153 Jove Roman king of the gods
154 What ... hands? i.e. There is no need to manhandle me 155 You i.e. Leontes' attendants
158 set on put up
162 straight immediately
164 testimony authority/ evidence
167 proper own
176 credit credibility/honor
177 beseech beseech you
179 dear heartfelt/valuable
182 foul issue terrible outcome
183 I ... blows I am exposed to every opinion
189 Lady Margery derogatory name for a woman; "Margery-prater" is a slang term for "hen"
191 this beard's grey probably refers to Antigonus' beard adventure risk
203 lewd-tongued outspoken/lascivious
204 enjoin command
205 liege-man loyal servant
207 desert deserted
209 it its
210 strange fortune unnatural circumstances/foreign events, i.e. Polixenes 213 commend ... place commit it to some foreign land 214 nurse ... it nurture or kill it
215 present instant, immediate
217 kites birds of prey
ravens thought to be a bird of ill omen
220 Like similar
221 more more ways
require deserves
222 thy addressed to the baby
226 posts messengers
232 beyond account without precedent/beyond description 235 suddenly immediately
237 session legal hearing
arraign put on trial
1 delicate exquisite/fragrant
5 caught struck/charmed
habits clothing
7 grave reverend, wise
12 Kin similar
surprised assailed, overwhelmed
14 th'event the outcome
16 rare wonderful, exceptional
17 worth ... on't well spent
22 violent ... it rash way it has been executed
24 great divine chief priest
25 discover reveal
4 Of by
7 Even ... purgation until we have established guilt or acquittal 71 friend ... yours relative (Polixenes), who has professed his love freely for73 you since childhood 17 pretence purpose
19 counsel advise/communicate with
24 boot profit
25 mine ... received as I am thought to be a liar my claims shall be received accordingly 31 patience endurance, suffering
33 continent restrained/faithful
35 history any historical narrative or fictional tale pattern show, provide a model for